Carne Marinhoa

Fresh beef and veal obtained exclusively from the Marinhoa breed of cattle, born, reared, and slaughtered within a defined area of municipalities in the Aveiro and Coimbra districts of Portugal. The specification recognises five product classes distinguished by the age and carcass weight of the animal at slaughter. Registered as a PDO under file number PDO-PT-0233.

About this designation

Carne Marinhoa is a fresh meat designation covering carcasses and cuts from the Marinhoa breed of cattle, characterised by its corpulence and long muzzle. The specification defines five marketing classes: veal, from animals slaughtered up to the age of 8 months with carcass weight between 70 kg and 180 kg; beef, from animals slaughtered between 8 and 12 months with carcass weight up to 240 kg; male or female bovine animal, from animals slaughtered between 12 and 30 months with carcass weight of over 180 kg; cow, from females over 30 months with carcass weight of over 220 kg; and bull, from males over 30 months with carcass weight up to 220 kg. All animals must be born, reared, and slaughtered within the geographical area, comprising the municipalities of Águeda, Albergaria-a-Velha, Anadia, Aveiro, Cantanhede, Coimbra, Estarreja, Figueira da Foz, Ílhavo, Mealhada, Mira, Montemor-o-Velho, Murtosa, Oliveira do Bairro, Ovar, Sever do Vouga, Soure, and Vagos, together with the parishes of Ul, Loureiro, Pinheiro da Bemposta, and Palmaz in the municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis. All animals must be entered in the Register of Births; offspring of cattle in the Marinhoa herdbook must also be entered in that herdbook. Labelling must carry the words 'Carne Marinhoa — Denominação de Origem Protegida', a tamper-proof and indelible conformity mark, and the logo for 'Carne Marinhoa'. The marketing name Carne Marinhoa DOP may not be supplemented by distributor trademarks, though such marks may appear elsewhere on the label.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 21 June 1996 under file number PDO-PT-0233, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013243.
• All animals must be born, reared, and slaughtered within the defined geographical area; no derogation is permitted.
• The specification recognises five distinct product classes, each defined by the age and carcass weight of the animal at slaughter.
• Labelling must carry a tamper-proof and indelible conformity mark alongside the words 'Carne Marinhoa — Denominação de Origem Protegida'.

Tasting notes

Beira-Litoral beef DOP from native Marinhoa breed (Aveiro coastal area). Characteristic Marinhoa flavor.

HoReCa use

Coastal Beira regional cuisine.

Packaging

• Same